A leading fast food chain has declined to respond to rumours that it may selling up shop in Gillingham as part of the second phase of a major retail development.

Robert Tizzard is applying to redevelop land off Station Road, demolishing the existing "poor quality garaging" in favour of five two-bedroom houses and six retail units.

One of the proposed units has been earmarked as a "takeaway", leading to speculation on social media that McDonalds would be moving in.

But despite multiple approaches by Somerset Live, the Golden Arches giant has declined to comment on the speculation.

The Harwood Retail Centre currently includes Iceland and Pets at Home (Image: Google Maps)

This comes after Gillingham Town Council's planning committee voted to recommend that phase two of the Harwood Retail Centre (which is what the new plans constitute) should be refused.

Councillor David Walsh, who chairs the planning committee, stated that the council was "in support of redeveloping the area" and added that outline planning permission for the whole site was already in place.

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However, he raised concerns about traffic exiting onto Newbury near the junction with Harding's Lane.

Under the plans, traffic will enter the side from Station Road to the west, and exit onto Newbury under a one-way system.

A one-way system will be in operation if the new units are built (Image: The Ratcliffe Grove Partnership)

Councillor Anne Beckley said that the new buildings would be "over-dominenant and overbearing", adding: "It will be a lot taller than the adjacent building, currently occupied by Pets at Home and Iceland, and the residential units will directly overlook Lanark Villas, which will have an adverse effect on the amenities currently enjoyed by these properties."

Councillor Val Pothercary stated that she was in favour of the area being regenerated, but added that the council was already dealing with numerous complaints over congestion on Newbury and Station Road - a situation which, she claimed, the plans would exacerbate.

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Councillor Sharon Cullingford said: "The proposed junction at Newbury is too tight and not wide enough to allow delivery lorries to exit safely.

"The area is busy with visitors to the doctors' surgery and school. Consideration could be given to a different exit point, such as on Le Neubourg Way."

The new homes and business units will form phase two of the Harwood Retail Centre (Image: Pegasus Planning Group)

Mr Tizzard, who was present at the meeting, responded that he had taken advice from transport consultants, who had informed him that lorries would safely be able to exit.

He added: "In my opinion, there will be no increase in traffic at Newbury."

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The council voted unanimously to recommend the refusal of the application due to the tightness of the proposed junction, the possible increase in congestion, a perceived lack of parking and the proposed one-way system being used as a rat run.

North Dorset District Council is expected to make a final decision on the plans later this year.